Family mourns passing of ouma (94)
At age 94, Mary-Ann Foulds passed away over the weekend leaving her five children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Even though she succumbed to old age, her memory and legacy will remain alive after having lived her life to the fullest. Mary-Ann is best described by her loved ones as a person who cared for and treasured family ties, who loved celebrations and was a generous giver.
A mother to Jeanette, Denise, Peter, Yvonne and Alan, she is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren and will be remembered for her jovial and humble nature.
For most of her life, she enjoyed sightseeing and travelling to different parts of the world. And just recently, she had an opportunity to go on a holiday with her loved ones in Mpumalanga.
Her son-in-law, Ronald Thoresson said: “When her daughter Yvonne was four years old, her husband left her. She brought up her five children by herself from 1960. She took her children to school and gave them all big weddings. Every Christmas we would get an envelope with money as a token of her affection.”
Born in Queenstown and later moved to East London, Mary-Ann was first a hairdresser and went into meat supply. Eventually, she took her pension in her mid-60s. She then travelled the world; touring all over England, the USA and several other countries.
Ronald, who has known her for close to five decades, said the late Mary-Ann was like a mother to her.
Her daughter Yvonne Thoresson reiterated: “She had a good life, and her children were all there for her. We all supported her and she supported us. She was a loving mom, a typical grandmother who loved her grandchildren.”
She was also a firm believer who belonged to the Bethel House of God in Kibler Park.
Her memorial service will be held on October 6 in Bryanston, and her ashes will be going into a memory wall in St Michael’s Anglican Church.